Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment Dr Maria Panayiotou paid a two-day working visit to Israel recently, to discuss strengthening and expanding bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture, water management and the circular economy.
The visit included meetings with her counterparts and relevant authorities in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with the aim of seeking practical solutions to address the common challenges facing the two countries in the above areas, the Ministry said in a press release here on Tuesday.
On the sidelines of the visit, a meeting was held with Israel's Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Avi Dichter, during which the two Μinisters examined areas of common interest relating to agricultural production, food safety, research, and technological innovation at a time when climate change is directly affecting the primary sector. At the same time, they discussed the prospects for revising the existing 1994 Cooperation Agreement to meet current needs and challenges.
It is added that the Minister then met with the Minister of Environmental Protection, Idit Silman, with whom she exchanged views on policies relating to waste management and the implementation of the principles of the circular economy, green infrastructure, the protection and management of protected areas, and the promotion of the regional initiative for climate action, with the aim of exploring cooperation and exchanging good practices in important areas of environmental governance.
It is noted that during the visit, the Agriculture Minister also had a series of meetings and technical presentations with Israeli institutional and scientific bodies, with informative visits to the Heria Recycling Unit and Ariel Sharon Park, where the model for restoring a former landfill site into a modern hub of ecological regeneration, environmental regeneration, and sustainable resource utilization was presented.
Panayiotou was then briefed by the Israel Water Authority on the strategies implemented by the country in water resource management, desalination, water reuse, and digital tools for monitoring hydrological data and issues of water quality and availability, as well as on governance in the water sector, which Cyprus is currently studying.
It was agreed that cooperation would continue at a technical level, with the aim of further exploring tools and practices that can effectively contribute to addressing the water challenges faced by Cyprus, it is added.
In addition, the Minister discussed the possibilities for cooperation with her Palestinian counterpart, Rezq Salimia, who she met in Ramallah.
During the Minister's visit to Ramallah, a Bilateral Action Plan was signed between the two Ministries for the period 2025-2027.
According to another Ministry press release, the discussion focused on the situation in the agricultural sector, the challenges facing the Palestinian Authority, and the possibilities for further deepening cooperation between the two countries, particularly in areas related to sustainable agricultural development, water resource utilization, agricultural research, and the creation of new employment opportunities.
In addition, initiatives and actions being implemented in the agricultural sector were presented, with particular emphasis on improving production, applying innovative cultivation techniques, and strengthening the resilience of the food system under the current conditions. The strategic role of the agricultural economy for the social and economic stability of Palestine was also highlighted.
The Bilateral Action Plan between the two Ministries, which revises and activates the existing Memorandum of Understanding, as noted in the press release, provides for cooperation in the areas of primary production, exchange of know-how, development of research and educational activities, as well as actions related to water management, laboratory support, and strengthening producers through modern tools and techniques.
(Source: CNA)
